How Does 'The Benefits Of Being An Octopus' Depict Family Struggles?

"Before you get too excited, Mom, I turned him down. Forget the dress, and the dance," added Gwen. "You turned down a date with that hunk, Gwen? What on earth were you thinking?" asked a stunned Kate. "Girls will kill for a date with that guy. I know I would!" .......... No one had ever asked her out so soon after meeting her. In fact, only a couple of guys had ever even hinted that they would like to date her and she had quickly dashed their hopes. Gwen was very accomplished in her studies and was on track to graduate first in her class. She wanted to be a surgeon and she had long ago decided that fleeting emotional entanglements would not advance her career plans. She was also an avid reader and a born romantic. She was determined to not settle for some mundane romance. In fact, she would settle for nothing less than a love like Juliet had with Romeo. The boys that had shown any interest in her thus far had simply not measured up. She finally sees her path to redemption. Both of them will stop at nothing to change the world. But will the passion they discover in each other be enough to save the world?

Liza, a single mother, fights to make ends meet in the corporate world without family support. The weight of her responsibilities threatens to crush her spirit. Each day, the fear of homelessness and not being able to provide for her children ignites a fire within her. Driven to desperation, Liza enters a hidden realm of debauchery to survive. Fate intertwines her with Jack, a powerful executive. When Jack sees Liza in the club, questions swirl in his mind. He feels an urge to protect her but fears revealing his true identity. Liza and Jack are bound together by a force stronger than the darkest night. Can Liza persevere and find happiness and security amidst the storm within her? Only time will tell.

Emily had plans, plans that didn't involve moving in with her elder brother and having to share an entwined room with his best friend. Being born into a rich family,her only intentions were to attend college and fulfill her dreams of becoming an artist but her world turns upside down when trouble comes knocking in the form of Tyler,her brother's undeniably gorgeous and irresistible best friend. However,Emily and Tyler's relationship kicks off to a rocky start and her guarded world opens up as she is between her feelings for Tyler and his unyielding demeanor towards her, constantly reminding her that he has no interest in her and only sees her as his best friend's obnoxious little sister. Will a sheltered naive girl like Emily be able to break through Tyler's caged heart or will his cold and unyielding demeanor be too strong for her to handle?

Even though she doesn't love Jacob, Daphne decides to wed him in order to get the money she needs for her grandmother's surgery. She was treated more like a servant than a wife, but she is powerless to change it because it was her decision. But because they both got wasted that evening, something happened between them, and the result was that she became pregnant. Given that she is aware of Jacob's lack of love for her, does their relationship still have a chance? How is she going to accept the fact that their union is based more on the advantages they would receive from one another than on their shared love? What if she developed feelings for Jacob but his ex-girlfriend showed up again?

Ivan Carey, quiet and always keeping social interaction in school to a minimum, his plan of getting unnoticed is working until he comes across Nathan Calloway in one drunken night. Things lead to things and sexual tension kicks in. With neither boys wanting a rumor passing around, they each agree no one else will know but keeping it that way proves more of a challenge than expected. Can Nathan stick with the rules or has he met his match in Ivan?

Eva Carson has one enemy: Son of a rival family, Gorgeous, Cocky, borderline annoying, with a huge Ego– Emerson Ford. They never see eye to eye on things, and remain thorn in each other's flesh. After witnessing Emerson Ford fuck a girl through her window, while holding eye contact with her– something shifts between the two. When their overflowing enmity escalates into an unforgettable night of intense pleasure, Eva's hatred explodes into something else. Something with a teeming, uncontrollable sex drive. With the fued between the two families coupled with her somewhat hatred for him, Eva is unwilling to give in to her unwelcomed desires for Emerson, but when fate plays a cruel trick on them; how long before Eva breaks and finds herself in his bed?